LG 75UH8500 vs Sony XBR75X850D : Which is a better choice?

LG 75UH8500 and Sony XBR75X850D are mid class of 2016 models big screen 4K HDR LED TVs. To support a campaign about HDR for 4K TVs in 2016, both of them also come with HDR (High Dynamic Range) ability. In the market, both of them are sold in price range $3000 – $3500 where LG 75UH8500 is sold more expensive about $200. But of course, their price is not fixed could still change at any time. So, if you are searching big screen 75 Inch in this price range, of course there are both of them as your options. So, which is superior between them and a better choice?

At a glance about LG 75UH7500

Super Mastering Engine with HDR Super and Dolby Vision are the main engine behind LG 75UH8500. This means it supports two HDR formats at once, HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. And to deliver maximum HDR picture quality, it is supported by the number of LG most advanced technologies like Quantum Dot Panel, Tru Black Panel, and Ultra Luminance. On its panel, this 75UH8500 uses IPS panel with Edge-lit backlight and local dimming. Additionally, there are also Tru 4K Upscaler Engine for up-scaling as its UHD Up-scaling engine and Tru Motion 240Hz for handling motion blur when it is displaying video contents with a lot of fast scenes. In term of Smart TV, LG 75UH8500 features excellent WebOS 3.0 as its platform. That is not less powerful is about its audio equipment where it is powered by 4.2 channel audio system with 60 watts total power and designed by one of big names of premium audio system manufacturers HarmanKardon.

At a glance about Sony XBR75X850D

Moving on Sony XBR75X850D, 4K X-Reality Pro and X1 4K Image processor is the picture engine behind it. But unlike LG 75UH7500 that support HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, Sony XBR75X850D only supports HDR 10 format. And to improve its HDR performance, this XBR75X850D is also powered by the number of Sony’s most advanced technology like TriLuminos Display, Advanced Contrast Enhancer, and other. On its panel, XBR75X850D also uses IPS panel and Edge LED Backlighting but as its dimming technology, it uses frame dimming. For handling motion blur, it depends on great performance of Motion Flow XR960 technology based on native120 Hz refresh rate panel. Like its competitor, Sony XBR75X850D also offers attractive smart TV that is not less attractive, that is Google Android TV where most people have been familiar on their Android Smart Phone. And as its audio equipment, it is equipped with 4.0 channels speaker system with total power 30 watts where each channel is powered by 7.5 watts power amplifier.

Sony XBR75X850D vs LG 75UH8500 Performance

Picture Quality

As mentioned, both of these big screen 75 Inch 4K TVs already support HDR where Sony XBR75X850D support HDR 10 while LG 75UH8500 support HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. For mastering in HDR, HDR 10 needs contrast between 0.05 nits of black level and 1000 nits of peak brightness while Dolby Vision needs higher level requirements, that is 0 – 10000 nits of peak brightness with current target 4000 nits. About Color reproduction, HDR 10 need more than 90% of DCI P3 color space with 10 bit depth of color while Dolby Vision Required Rec.2020 Color Space with 12 Bits Depth of color. And for displaying HDR 10 or Dolby Vision contents fully, a HDR TV also should meet the minimum standardization set for each. , how display specs that offered by each of them?

Let’s start from contrast because contrast is one of most important aspects of picture quality. LG 75UH8500 can reach about 0.084 nits black level with contrast ratio about 1188: 1 contrast ratio while Sony XBR75X850D can also can reach about 0.084 nits of black level but with slight higher contrast ratio that is 1248:1 contrast ratio. In term of peak brightness, 75UH8500 can reach about 550 nits of peak brightness on 25 % of window while because XBR75X850D didn’t use local dimming, its peak brightness tend to be the same on every % of windows that is about 420 nits peak of brightness. But overall, both of Sony XBR75X850D and LG 75UH8500 offers not much difference in contrast. This means black level and peak brightness reached by them is still far below what set by UHD Alliance for HDR 10 or what reached by Samsung SUHD TVs with 0.015 of black level and 1500 nits f peak brightness. But considering both of them use IPS Panel, what reached by them in term of contrast still can be said great.

Moving on color reproduction, both of these Sony XBR75X850D and LG 75UH8500 also already support 10 bit depth of panel. This means both of them can delivers more than 1 billion shades of color. And this course will make color gradient of picture looks very finer and smooth without color gradation. But in term of color gamut, they are powered by different technology. Sony XBR75X850D is powered by TriLuminos Display technology while LG 75UH8500 is powered by Quantum Dot Technology. The result, XBR75X850d can deliver slight wider color gamut that is about 93% of DCI P3 color space while 75UH8500 can cover more about 90% DCI P3 color space. This means in term of color reproduction, both of them meet the minimum standardization of HDR 10 format set by UHD Alliance.

With the display specs that offered, of course both Sony XBR75X850D and LG 75UH8500 doesn’t compliant with the standardization set for Ultra HD certification. But at least, HDR picture displayed on each of their screen still looks great though they cannot display HDR picture fully. Compare them, they also offer HDR performance that is not much different. A slight advantage of 75UH8500, it already supports Dolby Vision although it also cannot display Dolby Vision fully.

Viewing Angle

As mentioned, both Sony XBR75X85D and LG 75UH8500 use IPS Panel. Despite the use of IPS panel makes deterioration in contrast, but in other side, it offers wide viewing angle than a 4K TV with VA panel. If on VA panel the contrast and color usually will look degraded started 20 degrees off center and front, with IPS panel, both of XBR75X850D and 75UH8500 offers wider that is about 35 degrees off center and front. Of course, this will give you a benefit when placing your seat to get the best viewing.

Motion Handling

Although they are powered by different technology when handling fast motion images, LG 75UH8500 with Tru Motion 240Hz and Sony XBR75X850D with Motion Flow XR960, but basically, the technologies behind them are the same based on native 120 Hz refresh rate panel. The result is not also much different. There is only a little motion blur appears in certain scenes when they are used for watching fast motion images like sports or fast games. But if observed carefully, XBR75X850D offers better performance than 75UH8500.

UHD Up-scaling

In term of UHD Up-scaling, the performance that offered by them is also similar. Behind LG 75UH8500 there is Tru Up-Scaler engine while behind Sony XBR75X850D, there is 4K X-Reality pro. The result, both of them the same do a good job whether when the source is SD contents 480p like DVDs or SD TV, HD Contents 720p like Cable/Satellite TV or full HD 1080p like Blu Ray. All of contents with these resolutions are up-scaled in near 4K quality clearly and rich in details. The higher resolution of sources of course the result is better.

3D Technology

In term of 3 technology, of course their difference is very clear where LG 75UH8500 is equipped with passive 3D technology while there is no 3D technology behind Sony XBR75X850D. But separated from their differences, what offered by 75UH8500 about their 3D images is very great. With Cinema 3D technology based on passive 3D behind it, it offers flicker-free 3D images with tons of depth. We all know, passive 3D technology offers a benefit than active 3D technology about flicker and crosstalk-free. Additionally, the other benefit is about its 3D glasses where they are lighter, cheaper, and more comfort to use. And to watch 3D images, this doesn’t require a specific 3D glasses like on active 3D. This means you can use all type of passive 3D glasses to watch 3D images on the screen of 75UH8500.

Smart TV

Moving on Smart TV, both of them feature the same most attractive smart TV platform, LG 75UH8500 with WebOS 3.0 and Sony XBR75X850D with Google Android TV. I don’t discuss completely about them because this certainly requires a very long discussion. Furthermore, Smart TV certainly is not our main consideration in buying HDR TV. Essentially, Google Android TV is richer in term of apps provided while WebOS is superior in term of simplicity and responsiveness. But separated from their differences, both of these Smart TV OS offer complete most useful apps. There are Web Browser, Premium VoD service, Screen Mirroring apps, Game apps, Content Store, and many more.

Sound Quality

As we see on comparison table above, LG 75UH8500 is powered by 4.2 channel speaker system with total power 60 watts where its audio sound is designed by Harman Kardon while Sony XBR75X850D is equipped with 4.0 channel speaker system with total power 30 watts. In term of power output, 75UH8500 certainly is superior to XBR75X850D, especially on low frequency where it is equipped with 2 channel built-in woofer while behind XBR75X850D, there is no built-in woofer. Additionally, because of its sound system is designed by HarmanKardon, a big name in premium Audio System manufacturers, this makes sound quality offered by 75UH8500 is also better than XBR75X850D. But even so, to get best experience in sound quality, they still the same need an additional external sound bar.

Connectivity

Although t is not a major, but I see there is a slight difference between the about the number of their HDMI Ports. We can see on comparison table above, 75UH8500 is equipped with 3 HDMI ports while XBR75X850D is equipped with 4 HDMI Ports. The other difference is about the number of Composite in (AV) where XBR75X850D is equipped with 2 ports while 75UH8500 is only equipped with only 1 port. And of course, with the superiority in term of the number HDMI ports and AV IN, of course XBR75X850D can cover more of your devices.

Conclusion

As we have discussed above, overall, picture quality that offered by Sony XBR75X850D and LG 75UH8500 is virtually identical. UH75UH8500 is slight better on contrast while XBR75X850D is slight better on wide color gamut. When they display HDR, both of them also show similar performance. The difference, LG UH75UH8500 already supports HDR 10 and Dolby Vision while Sony XBR75X850D only supports HDR 10 supports. But even so, both of them doesn’t compliant with Ultra HD certification. This mean both of them cannot display HDR10 contents fully. In term of other aspects like viewing angle, UHD Up-scaling, and Motion Handling, both of them also offer similar performance although for more specific, Sony XBR75X850D is slight superior. Another advantage of XBR75X850D is about the number HDMI ports and Composite In.

The major advantage of LG 75UH8500 is about 3D technology where it is equipped with passive 3D technology while XBR75X850 is not. The other advantage is about its sound quality where it is equipped with 4.2 sound system powered by HarmanKardon. Although in term of Smart TV, both of them offer the same attractive and responsive Smart TV, but overall, WebOS 3.0 is slight better than Google Android TV.

Which is a better choice between them? As mentioned, in the market, Sony XBR75X850D is sold about $200 cheaper than LG 75UH8500 where both of them are sold in price range $3000 – $3500. Of course their difference in price is not too significant for their price range. With the performance that offered, in my personal opinion, I prefer to choose 75UH8500 than XBR75X850D. Why is that? With spend about just $200, we can enjoy both HDR format HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, 3D images and better sound quality. But it is not a suggestion for you because the decision certainly comes back to you according to your wish. Still confuse to choose one of them? There are some opinions from each of their real customers that you can make as your further consideration.

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